Vienna city government secures 1,000 apartments for homeless citizens!

Vienna city government secures 1,000 apartments for homeless citizens!

In Vienna, a new special campaign that was launched on July 1, 2024 has already helped more than 1,000 people into permanent municipal housing. This measure was initiated by Wiener Wohnen to support people with expiring rental contracts in the private residential sector. Those affected can continue to apply for a safe living situation until the registration deadline on February 28, 2025. This initiative is proving to be an important offer of help, especially in times when only 44 percent of new rental contracts are for an indefinite period.

The City of Vienna provided a total of 1,000 permanent apartments that do not require a deposit or equity. The ongoing support is an answer to the increasing problem of fixed-term tenancies, which are causing many Viennese to fear their existence. There are currently another 130 interested parties in the selection or viewing process.

Criteria for participation

In order to take part in the special campaign, those interested must meet a few criteria: The minimum age is 18 years, and applicants must have had their main residence in Vienna for at least two years. Furthermore, Austrian citizenship or equivalent status is required. There are also maximum income limits that are taken into account based on the individual life situation.

From May 1, 2025, access to municipal housing will be easier: two years of primary residence in Vienna will be recognized with an unlimited number of addresses. In a further development, a new award category will be introduced for households suffering from inflation. A positive decision for new housing assistance or rental assistance is required.

Long-term perspectives

The permanent rental contracts offer tenants long-term security, which is urgently needed due to the volatility of the housing market. From 2026, Vienna plans to introduce a central Viennese housing ticket for municipal housing and subsidized apartments, which will use a flexible points system to better take individual life situations into account. The existing regulation, the Vienna bonus for long-term Viennese residents, remains in effect.

In addition to these measures, there are special regulations for people who find themselves in difficult living situations due to personal circumstances such as divorce or eviction. For example, in the event of a divorce or separation of life, certain evidence must be provided, such as a legally binding divorce decree or an alimony agreement. In the case of evictions, relevant documents such as a legally binding eviction judgment are required in order to receive support. This information can be found in detail on the Wiener Wohnen website here.

The initiative aims to sustainably strengthen social housing in Vienna and to provide the affected citizens with a stable and safe home. Such programs are necessary to help the growing number of people who are at risk of becoming homeless due to rising rents and limited offers, as Volkshilfe Wien also emphasizes in its current report here.